The Awakening of Mahāvairocana 3.21

3.21

「行者如次第，先作自真實，
如前依法住，正思念如來，
阿字為自體，并置大空點，
端嚴遍金色，四角金剛標。
於彼中思念，一切處尊佛，
是諸正等覺，說自真實相。
修行不疑慮，自真實相生，
當得為世間，一切眾利樂。
具廣大希有，住於如幻句，
無始時宿殖，無智諸有迫，
行者成等引，一切皆消除。
若觀於彼心，無上菩提心，
持真言業故，於淨非淨果，
應理常無染，如蓮出淤泥，
何況於自體，得成仁中尊。」

In accordance with [ritual] procedures the practitioner first performs

[the meditation on] the truth of the self,

And abiding as before in accordance with the rules, he properly

thinks on the Tathāgata.

He makes of his own person the letter A, to which he adds the great

dot of emptiness [resulting in Aṃ]:

It is dignified, completely golden in color, and marked with vajras

in the four corners.

Therein he imagines the Buddha honored everywhere (i.e., Vairocana):

This the Perfectly and Fully Awakened Ones have taught to be the

sign of the truth of the self.

As he practices without any misgivings, the sign of the truth of the

self will arise,

And he will obtain benefit and happiness for all in the world.

Endowed with vast marvels, he will dwell in a state like that of

an illusionist,

And oppression by ignorance and the [three] existences implanted

since beginningless time

Will completely disappear when the practitioner achieves mental

equipoise.

If he visualizes that mind, the unsurpassed bodhi-mind,

On account of the action of reciting mantras he will in pure and

impure results

Be according to reason always undefiled, just like the lotus that rises

out of mud,

And how much more so if in his own person he succeeds in becoming

one honored among people!

Then the World-honored One Vairocana further dwelled in the samādhi “Adamantine Play Which Vanquishes the Four Demons” and uttered words of adamantine syllables for vanquishing the four demons, liberating the six destinies, and satisfying the knowledge of an omniscient one: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, āḥ vi ra hūṃ khaṃ. (Homage to all Buddhas! Āḥ vi ra hūṃ khaṃ!)60 [142]

Then Vajrapāṇi, the Lord of Mysteries, and the other vajradharas, Samantabhadra and the other bodhisattvas, and the entire great multitude, having experienced something unprecedented, with wide-open eyes bowed down to the all-sarvajña (omniscient one) and spoke these verses:

“This is the treasury of buddhas and world-saving bodhisattvas,

With which all buddhas and world-saving bodhisattvas,

As well as [pratyekabuddhas,] who awaken to causes and conditions,

and śrāvakas, who slay mental afflictions,

Are able to exercise various supernatural faculties wherever they go, And they obtain unsurpassed knowledge, the unsurpassed knowledge

of the Perfectly Awakened One. Therefore we beg you to explain in full the expedient means of this

teaching, As well as various deeds such as the mental arrangement [of letters

on different parts of the body].

Those who seek after the unsurpassed mantra practices of the

Great Vehicle, Seeing the Dharma and dwelling in peace, will obtain the abode

of joy.” When they had finished speaking these verses, the World-honored

One Vairocana said: “All of you should listen attentively, dwelling singlemindedly in

mental equipoise.” Then he empowered his lower body as the great adamantine ground And in order to expound this Dharma manifested a bodhi-seat. “The supreme syllable A is a great indra (mahendra) circle And one should know that inside and outside it is the same, a vajra

maṇḍala (circle); Therein one imagines everything, and it is described as the seat

of yoga. The letter A is foremost life, and it is regarded as the syllable of

induction; Always place a great dot of emptiness on it, and it will be able to

attract and bestow all results. If for one month the practitioner binds the seal of adamantine wisdom And performs recitation three times [daily], he will demolish the

citadel of ignorance And obtain unmoving firmness, indestructible by gods and asuras. In addition, deeds for increasing benefit are accomplished

at will— All [these] the practitioner always performs in the center of the

maṇḍala. Golden in color, his body resplendent, and wearing a crown of hair

done in a topknot,

The Perfectly Awakened One dwells in samādhi: this is called

the great adamantine state.

A vajra, a lotus flower, a sword, a white goose, gold, earth,

Or a cintāmaṇi jewel—these articles

One visualizes in the great indra [circle] and performs the siddhis.

Now I shall explain the method for subduing [adversaries]: all of

you listen singlemindedly!

The practitioner concentrates his thoughts on eight-peaked

Mount Meru,

On top of which he visualizes a wondrous lotus flower and erects

[thereon] the seal of adamantine wisdom (i.e., a vajra);

On top [of this] the yogin [visualizes] the letter-gateway [A]

with awesomely blazing light,

And this he places on the crown [of his adversary],62 who will

remain still and not move.

Medicine that has been mantrafied one hundred times—this the

practitioner should ingest,

And illnesses born of actions in former lives will all be cured.

Sons of the Buddha, you should further listen to the foremost

letter-gateway Va.

It is the color of snow, milk, or a śaṅkha, and rests on

A pedestal of a fresh white lotus flower that rises up from one’s

own navel;

In most profound and serene concentration, [it resembles] the light

of a white moon on an autumn night:

Such a maṇḍala the buddhas have taught to be remarkable.

It is imagined to be pure white, [surrounded by] circles ninefold,

Resting within a haze and removing all torments.

Its pure milk, like a string of pearls, a crystal, or moonlight,

Flows everywhere, filling all places—

If the practitioner imagines this in his mind, he will escape the

poison of obstructions.

With the likes of these does he perform in the circular altar

(maṇḍala) [rites of] accomplishment while inmental equipoise:

Milk, curds, fresh butter, ghee, sphaṭika (crystal), strings of pearls,

Lotus roots, water, and such things bring about siddhi in due order. He will obtain an immeasurable lifespan and manifest an

outstanding physique, All his troubles will cease, gods and humans will all revere him, And he will be very learned, have a good memory, and be

intelligent, pure, and unsullied; Performing [rites of] accomplishment by this means, he will

quickly realize the results of siddhi. This is called the auspicious maṇḍala of the ‘pacifier’; As a sign of foremost mastery a great dot of emptiness is placed

[on top of the letter Va, resulting in Vaṃ]. The letter Ra is the supreme truth, and the Buddha has taught that

it is chief among things fiery; All sinful actions for which there is no option but to accept retribution Will all disappear when the well-practicing yogin is in mental

equipoise. The triangular figure in which it rests is pleasing to the mind and

completely red; Serene and surrounded by a wreath of flames, the triangle lies in

his heart. Intercorresponding with it, he visualizes therein the letter Ra with

a great dot of emptiness (i.e., Raṃ), And the wise person accomplishes various deeds with it as

appropriate. [Rites for] the sun and planets and their attendants, as well as all

actions involving fire, Domination, causing resentment, and desiccating all the limbs

[of an adversary]— These [deeds] to be performed are all done in the circle of the fire

of knowledge. The letter Ha is the foremost reality, born of the circle of wind;